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Having fallen at Sixmilewater 6 weeks ago, my parkrun activity has been restricted to volunteering at juniors. Including a memorable time with my “brunch bunch” chums where we ended up with a flat tyre! But that’s another story.

Anyhoo, I’d been planning this trip for months. It was to attend the Jersey Scottish dance weekend, I’d booked flights and accommodation, and spent every Wednesday night with my dancing travelling companions going through the rather tricksy dance program. So I was dammed sure I wasn’t going to let a lousy broken metatarsal stand in my way of alphabeteering my letter J.

Access:

Flights to Jersey from Belfast only go once a week, but there’s a daily flight from Dublin. I caught the X1 airport bus which picks up at Sprucefield and drops you to the door of the the shiny glass terminal for £17 return. On the island, the Liberty bus service is superb, and the number 15 picks up right outside the airport door. £2.30 cash fare, £2 if you use contactless, other day and 3 day fares are available, but make sure you’d actually use them.

It’s the same bus you need to take you to the parkrun site at Les Quennevais (rhymes with kennedy) Sports centre. Don Farm is the bus stop you need.

There’s ample car parking – although on the day I was there a hockey tournament was taking place, so parking places were a bit more scarce.

Crowd:

Understandably, a letter J is a huge draw for alphabeteer tourists, and I got chatting to quite a few cow cowls, AND a world tourist cap wearer!

There were 414 this day – I know that cos I was tailwalker, so I was that number.

As I set off, there was a granny, mum and daughter trio in front of me. The daughter was in flip flops, and the granny in her 80s, so they only did one lap (and well done to them!)

There’s a lead bike, a few prams and dogs, and LOTS of tourists. Biggest problem at the start line is keeping people QUIET!

Course:

2 laps of the cycle track, and then breaks off onto a trail spur, with 2 turnaround points. Well marshalled throughout, and I loved the cute umbrella hats that the volunteers wore.

I have to say, even with the glimpses of the sea at various points, it’s not the most dramatically scenic course, but it’s relatively flat (until that final uphill section), and either tarmac or packed sand/gravel underfoot.

Facilities:

If you’re catching the bus from St Helier, there are loos there.

Toilets also in the sports centre. And the cafe does 10% off on presentation of your barcode. So a mug of tea and a toasted teackae was less than £3. And of course the cafe was packed full of chatty parkrunners, playing their Top Trumps and generally enjoying the post run adrenalin.

Time:

I’ was walking, it took me just over an hour. And oh, it’s good to be back!